Gut-brain connections in Parkinson’s disease: how the gut and environment shape symptoms
Official title: Mayo Clinic Consortium for Gut Brain Communication in Parkinson's Disease
Funded at Mayo Clinic Rochester · NIH-11596497 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Mayo Clinic team is studying how gut problems, environmental factors, and genetics together influence Parkinson’s disease and its GI symptoms to find biomarkers and better understanding of the disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mayo Clinic Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $200,000 |
| NIH project number | 3U01DK140921-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11596497 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Parkinson’s disease who have constipation (PwPD-C), people with Parkinson’s without constipation (PwPD-noC), and healthy controls.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without Parkinson’s disease or related GI symptoms may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at how gut health, brain function, and environmental exposures interact in people with Parkinson’s, including those with constipation and those without. Researchers will compare brain-gut interactions, analyze omics-based disease signatures, and study environmental exposures in three groups: people with Parkinson’s who have constipation, Parkinson’s without constipation, and healthy controls. Using imaging, tissue samples, and data from multiple disciplines, they aim to map how these factors come together to drive the disease process. The ultimate goal is to identify biomarkers and pathways that could inform future patient care and monitoring.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from better understanding of gut-related symptoms, biomarkers for early detection, and more personalized approaches to managing Parkinson’s disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked gut dysfunction and inflammation to Parkinson’s, with growing evidence supporting gut-brain connections, though comprehensive biomarker and exposome profiling is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Mayo Clinic Rochester
Rochester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bharucha, Adil E. — Mayo Clinic Rochester
- Study coordinator: Bharucha, Adil E.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Gut-brain clues in Parkinson’s disease: supplement to a large registry
A plant-wide supplement to an NIH program will enroll people with Parkinson’s, with and without GI symptoms, plus healthy controls, to study how gut function, brain signals, and sleep rhythms relate to Parkinson’s symptoms.
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Gut-brain communication in Parkinson’s disease for better symptoms and daily life
This project enrolls people with Parkinson’s disease and healthy controls to build a big registry and study how gut function, brain signals, sleep, and circadian rhythms relate to PD symptoms.
-
Gut microbiome and Parkinson's disease: how gut bugs relate to symptoms and progression
A multi-year study will look at gut bacteria and related markers in people with Parkinson’s disease to understand how the gut-brain connection may influence symptoms and progression.
-
Gut-Brain Axis in Parkinson’s Disease: biomarkers and procedures to track progression
A patient-focused program to study how gut health and the brain interact in Parkinson’s disease using biomarkers and clinical procedures.
-
Understanding posture and movement in Parkinson’s patients to reduce falls
A study using wearable sensors to track real-world balance and movement in people with Parkinson’s disease to help prevent falls.
-
Gulf War chemical exposures and early signs of Parkinson's disease
This project looks at whether deployment-related chemical exposures are linked to early Parkinson's signs in Gulf War veterans.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.